So this is the most watched episode of Doctor Who ever. Over
16 million people watched this episode and sadly it wasn’t because it was the
most talked about TV event ever. Due to a strike at ITV (which I have already
mentioned) meant that despite the ratings for this story this wasn’t the
greatest story of Doctor Who ever made. Certainly it’s a good one and far
better than Douglas Adams’ previous offerings but to be fair it has worked
quite well during this story. As I write this I am on holiday with a friend so
for the next several episodes I may have input from my friend. This is my
equivalent of padding but it will hopefully be more enjoyable than some of the
padding that there has been in Doctor Who so far.
After the death of Kerensky, the only weak link in this
story is the Countess. The problem with the Countess as far as I am concerned
is that she is naïve to the point where it is frustrating. Narratively it does
serve a purpose so I suppose its more due my expectations that flaws with the
story. When she does come the realisation about the truth it does make for a
very good scene where the Count rips off and like the first episode cliffhanger
the green mask does come off as the face mask comes off which does slightly
ruin the effect.
The Count only has two minutes to stop his previous self
from pressing a switch that causes the explosion seen in the first episode but
the way that he is stopped is simply by talking to the Doctor and Duggan
punching which leads to a wonderful line from the Doctor says that it might be
the most important punch in history. The character of Duggan has been one of
change because at the start he was annoying but overtime he has been a great
part of the cast and I think that Tom Chadbon did well with the character.
This episode features the cameo of Jon Cleese who makes a
cameo in the art gallery where the TARDIS is located. I just love the idea that
one of the Pythons has featured in Doctor Who.
There is a slight continuity error in this episode because in the
previous episode, he wrote THIS IS A FAKE yet when he tells Romana and Duggan
about it he says “THESE ARE FAKES”. I hate to be pedantic but I feel the need
to point it out and they even go to the trouble of pointing it out on the DVD
information text. Julian Glover is the best thing in this story and my friend
says that we didn’t need to see the alien face but just has Glover’s Count as
the villain. I think that the casting of Glover was great and I don’t know what
more I can add to it I’m afraid.
The final shot is of the Doctor and Romana walking away
after apparently flying and shouting “Goodbye Duggan” which my friend says is
impossible. It’s a nice shot though because the camera pulls back and gives us
one last look at Paris. It’s been a good end to a good story and I think that
after being disappointed with ‘Destiny of the Daleks’ it was good that this
story restored my faith in the show. The story was good, the performances were
also good and the directing was sound and when all these things come together
then the story has a good chance of doing well. Sadly I know what the next
story is and so my recently restored faith might be test in the next story. In
fact the next two stories are going to be a test but I suppose my opinions can
change.
As I mentioned, Tom Baker is now just one episode behind
William Hartnell. My friend reminded me that in Baker’s last season he looks a
lot more tired than he did in this season. As this is his penultimate season
its fair to say that his humour is becoming more impactful on the story and on
this occasion he got away with it but I think when the story doesn’t require it
then his humour just looks misplaced. On a totally random note, the
bodyguard/stooge that the Count has looks an awful lot like one of the
maintanence guys that works at the caravan park that I am staying at. Means
nothing to you but it does make me and my friend chuckle.
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